Axle bearing play

FGR8FRK

MEMBER
1993 CHEVROLET SILVERADO
5.7L
V8
2WD
AUTOMATIC
226,000 MILES

Installing a posi unit in a 10 bolt 8.5 and before pulling axles I checked for up and downplay and there was just a little.
Since the seals had been leaking, I purchased seals and OEM and bearings.
When I slid the bearing on the axle it still had play.
The axle looks good with no grooving, I measured the axle and it's 1.618 which from what I've found is correct for a new axle.
Is a little up and down okay, and how much would be excessive?

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5 Replies

KASEKENNY

MECHANIC
18,907 POSTS

You should not have any vertical movement. So, if you do then we need to find out how much and that will help figuring out what the issue is.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-replace-a-rear-axle-bearing-and-seal-3-4-and-1

Most of the time when I have found vertical movement it is due to a bearing issue but if you have replaced this and the axle then the most likely issue is the housing.

However, I would suggest with checking the amount of movement that you have to make a better decision on what to do. You do this using a dial indicator in the 12 o'clock position on the axle flange and then move it up and down and see how much you have.

There is a chance that the axle or bearing is not machined correctly. If you measured the axle shaft and it is correct, then the bearing may not be correct.

Do you have part numbers of the parts you replaced?

Let's start with this info and go from there. Thanks

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Monday, November 22nd, 2021 AT 6:47 PM

FGR8FRK

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46 POSTS

Thank you. I ordered the bearing off Amazon and believe it's the wrong bearing, most don't show the ID. I checked O'Reilly's website and found two national bearings with different id's, 1.705 and 1.625. That's still.007, but I'm going to pick them up and see if they fit any better.

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Tuesday, November 23rd, 2021 AT 8:29 AM

KASEKENNY

MECHANIC
18,907 POSTS

Great find. I think you nailed it. Keep us posted on the results. Thanks for the update.

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Tuesday, November 23rd, 2021 AT 12:31 PM

FGR8FRK

MEMBER
46 POSTS

I really appreciate all your help.
Finally found the correct bearings (1.620 and a snug fit) at Auto Value here in Indianapolis.
Now I think I have another issue.
After putting everything back together and filling the rear end, with it still on stands I started it up and put it in gear to run the new unit in to get it lubed up. I left it on stands and planned on topping the rear end off the next morning.
When I came out the next day, I immediately noticed fluid on the floor which ended up being brake fluid and the master cylinder was dry. I ended up replacing both rear cylinders and both front calipers, now after bleeding all 4 wheels (RR, LR, RF, LF) twice and getting solid fluid, the brake pedal seems to be way down with the motor running. When bleeding with the motor off it would pump up but if you wait about 30 seconds and push the pedal it goes down a bit but then pumping brings it back up.
Any advice would be welcome.

Pete

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Friday, November 26th, 2021 AT 9:17 PM

KASEKENNY

MECHANIC
18,907 POSTS

That is great and thanks for coming back to update us with that info. That will help others in the future.

We can definitely help with this other issue however; we are going to have to get a new post started as it is not related to this one and others will not find the solution to it under this post.

https://www.2carpros.com/questions/new

It sounds like a master cylinder issue but let's get a new one started and we can work through this.